Taysom Shawn Hill Bio
Taysom Shawn Hill (born August 23, 1990) is an American professional football tight end for the New Orleans Saints of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Brigham Young University Cougars as a quarterback from 2012 to 2016 and signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 2017. After being released during final roster cuts, Hill joined the Saints where he has become renowned for his exceptional versatility. He has officially played as both quarterback and tight end while also contributing on special teams and various offensive roles. The Saints media has nicknamed Hill “the Human Swiss Army Knife” for his ability to impact games in multiple ways.
Early Life and Background
Taysom Shawn Hill was born and raised in Pocatello, Idaho, and attended Highland High School where he graduated in 2009. During his high school career, Hill lettered in football, basketball, and track. As a senior quarterback, he threw for 2,269 yards and 18 touchdowns while rushing for 1,491 yards and 24 touchdowns. His outstanding performance earned him All-Idaho Player of the Year, Idaho Gatorade High School Player of the Year, First Team All-State selection, and All-Region and All-Conference Player of the Year honors. Hill still holds the Highland High School single-season and career records for total offense.
In track and field, Hill competed in the 200 meters and long jump events. As a sophomore at the 2007 5A District IV/V/VI Regional Meet, he posted a personal-best time of 22.5 seconds in the 200 meters, finishing third, and helped his 4 × 200 meters relay squad win first place with a time of 1:31.41. As a senior in 2009, Hill won the long jump at the 5A Regional Meet with a mark of 6.85 meters.
Path to American Football
Upon graduating high school in 2009, Hill received multiple scholarship offers from programs across the western United States, including the University of Arizona, Boise State University, Oregon State University, Washington State University, the University of Utah, Stanford University, and Brigham Young University. He initially committed to Stanford University, where he was heavily recruited by head coach Jim Harbaugh. However, after returning from his Latter-day Saints church mission, Hill enrolled at BYU in January after learning Stanford would not allow incoming freshmen to join the team until June.
Hill redshirted during his initial semester before the 2012 season. As a freshman in 2012, he served as the second-string quarterback on the BYU depth chart. The coaching staff utilized him in special packages to leverage his athleticism in short-yardage situations. His first pass as a college player was an 18-yard touchdown against Washington State in the season opener. Hill played in six games that season, winning two starts before suffering a season-ending knee injury in the closing seconds of a victory over Utah State.
Taysom Shawn Hill Career
Early Career (2017)
Hill went undrafted in the 2017 NFL Draft but signed with the Green Bay Packers as a free agent on May 5. He appeared in three preseason games with the Packers, completing 14 of 20 passes for two touchdowns while rushing for another score. However, Hill was released during final roster cuts on September 2, 2017. The New Orleans Saints claimed him off waivers the following day.
New Orleans Saints Breakthrough (2017–2021)
Hill was promoted to the Saints active roster on December 3, 2017, and appeared in a total of 12 special teams plays against the Carolina Panthers in his debut, recording two special teams tackles on Panthers kick returner Fozzy Whittaker. Listed as the third-string quarterback to begin the 2018 season, Hill was used in a variety of positions throughout the year, including as the team’s primary kick returner.
During Week 2 against the Cleveland Browns on September 16, 2018, Hill returned his first kick 47 yards in a 21–18 victory. The following week against the Atlanta Falcons, he delivered his most versatile performance up to that point, returning three kicks for 64 yards while making a tackle on a punt. On offense, he rushed three times for 39 yards and was frequently used as a tight end to block defenders. In Week 5 against the Washington Redskins, Hill recorded his first NFL touchdown on a five-carry, 24-yard rushing performance in a 43–19 victory. He finished the 2018 season with 37 carries for 196 yards and two touchdowns.
In the 2019 season, Hill blocking a punt against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 14 led to a touchdown that propelled the Saints to a 28–14 comeback victory and helped clinch the division title. He earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week for that performance. During the Divisional Round against the Philadelphia Eagles, Hill executed a crucial fake punt run for a first down to spark the Saints’ comeback victory. In the NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams, he caught a touchdown in the controversial 26–23 overtime loss.
On November 20, 2020, Hill made his first career start at quarterback against the Atlanta Falcons due to Drew Brees’ injury. He completed 18 of 23 passes for 233 yards and ran for 51 yards with two touchdowns in a 24–9 victory. That season, Hill set the NFL record for most touchdown receptions by a quarterback in a single season. On March 14, 2021, the same day Drew Brees announced his retirement, Hill signed a four-year, $40 million extension with the Saints.
New Orleans Saints Era (2022–Present)
New head coach Dennis Allen shifted Hill’s primary position from quarterback to tight end in March 2022, believing this would better utilize his diverse skill set. Although listed as a tight end, Hill primarily took snaps at quarterback in the wildcat formation and operated as a rusher throughout the season. During Week 5 against the Seattle Seahawks, Hill recorded one of the best statistical games of his career, scoring a career-high four touchdowns with nine carries for 122 yards and three rushing scores in a 39–32 victory. He earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week for that performance.
Despite being categorized as a tight end on the depth chart, Hill set new career highs for rushing attempts, rushing yards, and yards per carry while catching 33 passes for 291 yards and two touchdowns. He returned to his original quarterback position for the 2023 season. During a Week 11 game against the Cleveland Browns in 2024, Hill became the second player in the Super Bowl era to record 8 catches, 130 rushing yards, and 3 touchdowns in a single game, totaling 206 scrimmage yards, joining LaDainian Tomlinson who achieved a similar feat in 2002. However, he suffered a season-ending torn ACL during Week 13 against the Los Angeles Rams.
Driving Style and Strengths
Hill’s playing style defies traditional positional classification. His exceptional athleticism allows him to line up at multiple positions, from quarterback to tight end to wide receiver to fullback. His 40-yard dash time of 4.44 seconds and 38.5-inch vertical jump at BYU’s pro day demonstrated the athletic ability that makes him a mismatch nightmare for opposing defenses. His strength lies in his ability to create yards after contact as a runner, his effectiveness as a blocker, and his sure hands as a receiver. The Saints have maximized his versatility by designing packages that exploit his unique skill set in situational football.
Notable Events and Milestones
Hill achieved the NFL record for most single-season touchdowns without a turnover by a quarterback with seven in 2019. On December 14, 2025, during a 29–6 victory over the New York Jets in Week 16, Hill became the only player in the Super Bowl era to amass 1,000 career receiving, rushing, and passing yards, cementing his legacy as one of the most versatile players in NFL history.
Taysom Shawn Hill Career Wins
Throughout his NFL career with the Saints, Hill has contributed to numerous victories through his multifaceted contributions on offense and special teams. His ability to impact games in multiple facets has made him invaluable to the Saints’ game planning.
New Orleans Saints Highlights
Hill has appeared in multiple playoff games with the Saints, including the memorable 2018 Divisional Round comeback victory over the Philadelphia Eagles where his fake punt conversion sparked the rally. He also caught a touchdown in the 2018 NFC Championship Game against the Los Angeles Rams. His signature performances include the 2019 Week 14 blocked punt against Tampa Bay that secured the division title, and his four-touchdown performance against Seattle in 2022. Hill earned NFC Offensive Player of the Week honors following his four-touchdown game against the Seahawks.
Other Wins and Performances
Throughout his career, Hill has contributed to Saints victories through his roles as runner, receiver, blocker, and occasional passer. His 2020 season as starting quarterback included wins over the Atlanta Falcons (24–9) and Denver Broncos (31–3). His versatility was on full display during the 2019 Thanksgiving game against Atlanta where he blocked a punt, rushed for a 30-yard touchdown, and caught a 3-yard touchdown pass.
| Position | Games | Rushing Yards | Receiving Yards | Passing Yards | Total Touchdowns |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tight End/Quarterback | Multiple Seasons | 2,551 | 1,034 | 2,426 | 57 |
Taysom Shawn Hill Family
Family Background
Hill is the youngest of four children of Doug and Natalie Hill of Pocatello, Idaho. He was named after Taysom Construction Company, which was formerly located in his hometown. Hill is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and served as a missionary for the church in Sydney, Australia from 2009 to 2011, which delayed the start of his college football career.
Personal Life
Hill married Emily Nixon in 2014 in the Salt Lake Temple in Salt Lake City, Utah. The couple has two children together. Hill’s brother-in-law is former BYU and NFL linebacker David Nixon, who also played at Brigham Young University. The family connection to BYU football runs deep, with multiple relatives having played for the Cougars program.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 NFL season marked a milestone year for Hill despite the challenges he faced. He began the season on the Physically Unable to Perform list due to recovery from his 2024 ACL injury and was activated on October 4, 2025, for his season debut. The Saints continued to utilize his unique skill set in creative ways that maximized his versatility.
During a Week 16 victory over the New York Jets, Hill made NFL history by becoming the only player in the Super Bowl era to accumulate 1,000 career receiving, rushing, and passing yards. This remarkable achievement highlighted his unprecedented versatility that has defined his career. For the 2025 season, Hill finished with 52 carries for 114 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown, along with 11 receptions for 91 receiving yards as he continued to serve the Saints in a hybrid tight end role.